Accessory strap for apparel

ABSTRACT

Embodiments provide accessory straps for apparel, such as outerwear. In various embodiments, the accessory strap may be used to secure gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, and/or other accessories to a piece of apparel, such as outerwear, when the accessory is not being used. Various embodiments of the accessory strap may include an elastomeric element, so that the strap may stretch to encompass large or bulky items. Some embodiments may have an adjustable fit, so that various sized accessories may be securely stowed. In various embodiments, the accessory strap may be stowed under a flap, bellow, or other feature of the outerwear when not in use, for instance to hide it from view and/or prevent it from catching on nearby objects, and various embodiments of the accessory strap may be incorporated into the design of a pocket.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/550,838 entitled “ACCESSORY STRAP FOR APPAREL,” filed Oct. 24,2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to the field of apparel, and, morespecifically, to accessory straps for apparel, such as outerwear.

BACKGROUND

Gloves, mittens, and other apparel accessories are prone to being lostwhen they are temporarily removed to expose the wearer's hands duringoutdoor activities. Because these items often are too bulky to fit intoa pocket, some have devised leashes and clips to secure gloves andmittens to a jacket or coat. However, these solutions leave the mittensor gloves dangling inconveniently from the sleeve, where they can impedethe use of the hands. Furthermore, leashes and clips may pose a snaghazard. In addition to gloves and mittens, other bulky items also mayneed to be stowed during outdoor activities, such as hats, scarves,earmuffs, neck warmers, and the like. In addition to being too large tobe stored in a pocket, these items may be wet from use, making theminconvenient to store in an interior compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodimentsare illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in thefigures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a pocket with an accessory strap, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates the pocket of FIG. 1 with the accessory strap stowedbehind a fabric bellow; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the pocket of FIG. 1 with a gloves secured by theaccessory strap, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shownby way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural orlogical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore,the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limitingsense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations inturn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments;however, the order of description should not be construed to imply thatthese operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down,back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used tofacilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict theapplication of disclosed embodiments.

The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, maybe used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended assynonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected”may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physicalor electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two ormore elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However,“coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in directcontact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with eachother.

For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” or inthe form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes ofthe description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C”means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means(B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.

The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” whichmay each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments.Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and thelike, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous.

Embodiments herein provide accessory straps for apparel, such asouterwear. In various embodiments, the accessory strap may be used tosecure gloves, mittens, hats, earmuffs, scarves, neck warmers, and/orother accessories to a piece of apparel, such as outerwear, when theaccessory is not being used. Various embodiments of the accessory strapmay include an elastomeric element, so that the strap may stretch toencompass large or bulky items and secure the item underpressure/tension. Some embodiments may include an adjustable fitfeature, so that various sized accessories may be securely stowed. Forinstance, some embodiments of the accessory strap may include or becoupled to a buckle, snap, button, hook-and-loop fastener, or otherclosure device that may be used to adjust the length of the accessorystrap to suit a desired purpose.

In various embodiments, the accessory strap may be stowed under one ormore flaps, bellows, creases, pleats, folds, or another feature of theouterwear when not in use, for instance to hide it from view and/orprevent it from catching on nearby objects. For instance, in someembodiments, the accessory strap may be positioned next to a flap orpanel in the apparel that may be folded over the accessory strap whennot in use. In other embodiments, the accessory strap may be positionedunder or within one or more bellows, creases, folds, or pleats, such asone or more box pleats, that may at least partially cover and hide theaccessory strap when not in use. In some embodiments, the accessorystrap may be positioned inside a pocket, such as within a slash or patchpocket. In these embodiments, the accessory strap may be pulled out fromunder (or within) the bellows, creases, folds, pockets, or pleats foruse. In some embodiments, the flaps, bellows, creases, folds, pockets,or pleats may include one or more fasteners, such as a snap,hook-and-eye closure, button, zipper, or hook-and-loop-type closuredevice to secure it in the closed position when the accessory strap isnot being used.

Various embodiments of the accessory strap may be incorporated into thedesign of a pocket, for example a jacket pocket, vest pocket, shirtpocket, coat pocket, shorts pocket, or pants pocket. In someembodiments, the pocket may be a cargo pocket. In other embodiments, thepocket may be a patch pocket, a flap pocket, a slash pocket, a singlewelt pocket, or a double welt pocket. In various embodiments, the pocketmay be positioned anywhere on the outside of the outerwear where it isconvenient to have a pocket, such as a front pocket, side pocket, hippocket, chest pocket, or rear pocket on a jacket, vest, shirt, or coat,or a front pocket, hip pocket, back pocket, or leg pocket on a pair ofpants or shorts. In some embodiments, the accessory strap may beincorporated substantially vertically into the center of the pocket,whereas in other embodiments, the accessory strap may be incorporated inan off-center fashion, at an angle, or on the side of the pocket. Insome embodiments, a single pocket may include two or more accessorystraps.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a pocket with an accessory strap, inaccordance with various embodiments. Referring now to FIG. 1, in variousembodiments, the accessory strap 100 may be incorporated into a pocket102. In various embodiments, the pocket optionally may include astrap-covering element 104, which in the illustrated embodiment is abellow, but which may include one or more flaps, pleats, creases, folds,pockets, or a combination thereof in other embodiments. As shown in theillustrated embodiment, accessory strap 100 may be accessed fromunderneath element 104 by pushing the fabric of strap-covering element104 (e.g., the bellow) to the side or reaching under strap-coveringelement 104 and extracting strap 100. Although accessory strap 100 isillustrated in this embodiment as being incorporated into a pocket 102,one of skill in the art will appreciate that such an accessory strap isnot necessarily a part of a pocket, but may be positioned anywhere on agarment that allows convenient access by the user.

In some embodiments, accessory strap 100 may be secured at both the topand bottom ends (not shown) to the apparel, for example via stitching,or optionally via one or more releasable fasteners (not shown). Invarious embodiments, accessory strap 100 may include an elastomericelement, such as rubber, elastane, latex, neoprene, Lycra™, Spandex™, orany other natural or synthetic elastomer. In various embodiments, thiselastomeric element may allow accessory strap 100 to stretchsufficiently to accommodate large and bulky accessories.

Some embodiments of accessory strap 100 may include an adjustablefastening element 106 to allow the length of accessory strap to beconfigured to securely hold a variety of sizes of accessories. Forexample, in some embodiments, adjustable fastening element 106 may beused to loosen accessory strap 100 in order to fit around a pair oflarge gloves or another accessory (see, e.g., FIG. 3), and then may betightened in order to secure the gloves (or other accessory) inposition. In various embodiments, rather than coupling directly to theapparel at both ends, the accessory strap 100 may couple directly to theapparel at a first end, and it may couple to the adjustable fasteningelement 106 at the second end. The adjustable fastening element 106 maycouple to the apparel directly or via an intermediate element, such as aseparate length of strap or webbing. In some embodiments, the accessorystrap may couple to an adjustable fasting element or other coupler atboth the first and second ends, for example when the accessory strap isconfigured to be removable. Although adjustable fastening element 106 isa buckle in the illustrated example, one of skill in the art willappreciate that other types of adjustable fastening elements may besubstituted, such as one or more D-rings, one or more hook-and-eyefasteners, a snap or plurality of snaps, a button or plurality ofbuttons, or a hook-and-loop type closure such as Velcro™.

In the illustrated example, adjustable fastening element 106 is a bucklethat is coupled to accessory strap 100 near the top of pocket 102 andthat is coupled to the apparel within strap-covering element 104. Insuch an example, accessory strap 100 may be coupled to pocket 102 at ornear the bottom of pocket 102, and may extend to and pass throughadjustable fastening element 106, folding back on itself and leaving afree end 108. In use, accessory strap 100 may be tightened by pulling onfree end 108, and may be loosened by lifting and releasing adjustablefastening element 106. Although the illustrated example includes asingle strap length that couples to fastener 106 near the top of pocket102, one of skill in the art will appreciate that fastener 106 may belocated at any position along accessory strap 100, such as at thebottom, middle, or top, and that in some embodiments, fastener 106 maybe used to join two lengths of strap together. Additionally, althoughaccessory strap 100 is illustrated as being in a vertical orientation,in some embodiments, accessory strap 100 may be positioned horizontallyor at an angle relative to vertical, such as five, ten, fifteen, twenty,twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five, forty, or forty-five or more degreesfrom vertical, depending on the design of the outerwear.

FIG. 2 illustrates the pocket of FIG. 1 with the accessory strap stowedbehind a strap covering element 104. Referring now to FIG. 2, in variousembodiments, strap covering element 104 may partially or completely hideaccessory strap 100 when in a closed position. Although strap coveringelement 104 is an accordion-sewn bellow in the illustrated example, oneof skill in the art will appreciate that strap covering element 104 mayhave a different construction in other embodiments, such as one or morepleats, flaps, folds, creases, pockets, or the like. In someembodiments, strap covering element 104 may be made from the same or acoordinating material as the surrounding fabric, so as to better hideaccessory strap 100 when not in use. Some embodiments of strap coveringelement 104 may include one or more closure elements to hold strapcovering element 104 in a closed position over accessory strap 100, suchas a hook-and-eye fastener, a buckle or a plurality of buckles, a snapor plurality of snaps, a button or plurality of buttons, a zipper, or ahook-and-loop type closure such as Velcro™.

FIG. 3 illustrates the pocket of FIG. 1 with a glove secured by theaccessory strap, in accordance with various embodiments. Referring nowto FIG. 3, in use in various embodiments, a user may actuate accessorystrap 100 by inserting his or her fingers under accessory strap 100,pulling it out from beneath the strap covering element (not shown), andstretching accessory strap 100 sufficiently to accommodate accessory110, which in the illustrated embodiment is a glove. If necessary, insome embodiments, accessory strap 100 may be further loosened viaadjustable fastening element 106. Accessory 110 may then be positionedunderneath accessory strap 100, which may then be tightened by pullingon free end 108 of accessory strap 100, thus securing accessory 110 inplace.

In various embodiments, to remove accessory 110 from accessory strap100, accessory 110 may simply be pulled free of accessory strap 100, or,if needed, accessory strap 100 may first be loosened via adjustablefastening element 106 before accessory 110 is pulled free. In variousembodiments, accessory strap 100 may then automatically slide back understrap covering element (not shown).

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a widevariety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementationscalculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for theembodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Thosewith skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may beimplemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intendedto cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussedherein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limitedonly by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An accessory strap for apparel comprising: anaccessory strap having a first end and a second end, wherein the firstend is coupled to an article of apparel, and wherein the second end isadapted to couple to a fastening element; a fastening element coupled tothe apparel, and a strap covering element adapted to cover the accessorystrap when the accessory strap is not in use.
 2. The accessory strap ofclaim 1, wherein the accessory strap comprises an elastomer.
 3. Theaccessory strap of claim 1, wherein the fastening element comprises abuckle, a D-ring, a hook-and-eye fastener, a button, a snap, or ahook-and-loop fastener, and wherein the accessory strap assumes asubstantially vertical position on the apparel when coupled to thefastening element.
 4. The accessory strap of claim 3, wherein thefastening element is coupled to the apparel via an intermediate element.5. The accessory strap of claim 1, wherein the strap covering elementcomprises one or more bellows, pleats, folds, creases, or flaps.
 6. Theaccessory strap of claim 5, wherein the strap covering element furthercomprises a closure element.
 7. The accessory strap of claim 6, whereinthe closure element comprises a hook-and-eye fastener, a buckle, abutton, a snap, a zipper, or a hook-and-loop fastener.
 8. The accessorystrap of claim 1, wherein the apparel comprises a pocket, and whereinthe pocket comprises the accessory strap.
 9. The accessory strap ofclaim 8, wherein the pocket is a cargo pocket, a patch pocket, a singlewelt pocket, a double welt pocket, a flap pocket, or a slash pocket. 10.The accessory strap of claim 8, wherein the pocket is a jacket pocket, avest pocket, a shirt pocket, a coat pocket, a shorts pocket, or a pantspocket.
 11. An accessory strap for apparel comprising: an accessorystrap having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end iscoupled to an article of apparel, wherein the second end is adapted tocouple to a buckle, wherein the buckle is coupled to the apparel,wherein the first end and the buckle are spaced to span an outerwearaccessory, wherein the accessory strap comprises an elastomeric element,and wherein the accessory strap is oriented to assume a substantiallyvertical position on the apparel when coupled to the buckle; and a strapcovering element adapted to cover the accessory strap when the accessorystrap is not in use.
 12. The accessory strap of claim 11, wherein thestrap covering element comprises one or more bellows, pleats, folds,creases, or flaps.
 13. The accessory strap of claim 12, wherein thestrap covering element further comprises a closure element.
 14. Theaccessory strap of claim 13, wherein the closure element comprises ahook-and-eye fastener, a buckle, a button, a snap, a zipper, or ahook-and-loop fastener.
 15. The accessory strap of claim 11, wherein theapparel comprises a pocket and wherein the pocket comprises theaccessory strap.
 16. The accessory strap of claim 15, wherein the pocketis a cargo pocket, a patch pocket, a single welt pocket, a double weltpocket, a flap pocket, or a slash pocket.
 17. An accessory strap forapparel comprising: an accessory strap having a first end and a secondend, wherein the first end is coupled to an article of apparel at afirst location, wherein the second end is coupled to the apparel at asecond location, wherein the first and second locations are spaced toaccommodate an outerwear accessory and positioned to orient theaccessory strap in a substantially vertical position on the apparel, andwherein the accessory strap comprises an elastomeric element; and astrap covering element adapted to cover the accessory strap when theaccessory strap is not in use.
 18. The accessory strap of claim 17,wherein the strap covering element comprises one or more bellows,pleats, folds, creases, or flaps.
 19. The accessory strap of claim 17,wherein the apparel comprises a pocket and wherein the pocket comprisesthe accessory strap.
 20. The accessory strap of claim 17, wherein theelastomeric element is configured to secure the outerwear accessory tothe apparel.
 21. A method of securing an accessory to an article ofapparel comprising: providing: an accessory strap having a first end anda second end, wherein the first end is coupled to an article of apparel,and wherein the second end is adapted to couple to a fastening element;a fastening element coupled to the apparel, wherein the accessory strapassumes a substantially vertical position on the apparel when coupled tothe fastening element; and a strap covering element adapted to cover theaccessory strap when the accessory strap is not in use; extending theaccessory strap from the strap covering element a distance sufficient toaccommodate a desired accessory; inserting the accessory between theaccessory strap and the outerwear; and tightening the accessory strap tosecure the accessory to the outerwear.